Semi Pro Driver John Stancill Steals The Show At Hickory
By Jason Buckley
Hickory Motor Speedway (NC) is known as the “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars.” Many drivers in the big leagues of racing have cut their teeth in the sport at the legendary .363-mile bullring, and the winners are forever etched in the history books as someone who won at what many consider the “World’s Most Famous Short-Track”.
When the 2007 racing schedule was released for Hickory, Legends were not listed as part of their weekly schedule, which was a disappointment to some racers looking forward to racing at the famous facility. The only Legends races occurring this season at the track are in conjunction with touring events, if they decide to add them onto the schedule. This weekend, the ASA Southern Modified Tour did just that to the pleasure of many Legends drivers.
More than 20 drivers showed up to race with 17 taking the green flag in the combined Legends division race. After some of the best Legends racing of the year, it was Semi Pro John Stancill taking the overall race victory over his Nick Pistone Racing (NPR) teammate Jordan Anderson.
“I just had to drive hard and stay focused,” said Stancill. “Obviously I had the right stuff.”
It wasn’t an easy win for Stancill as he had to start from the seventh starting position with Pro drivers Anderson, Kyle Beattie and Mitchell Coble in front of him as well as Masters Division and veteran driver Clay Hair. On the start, Stancill watched from the best seat in the house as Anderson and Coble battled hard for
John Stancill. (LN Photo)
the top spot while Hair slid back through the field. The leaders swapped positions, running side-by-side for many laps. This allowed Stancill to catch up and drive by for the lead.
“All I had to do is be the first in my division,” said Stancill. “When I got to fifth place, I was the first Semi Pro, so I just kept driving with patience and picked them off one by one.
“They (Anderson and Coble) were battling with each other. When I caught them, Coble was going under Jordan. At first I was going to help Jordan because we are teammates, but I thought since I was faster than both of them and if I would pass Coble, Jordan would go with me. So I just took advantage of it and went for it.”
John Stancill (left) and Jordan Anderson (middle) learn a lot at the track from Nick Pistone (right). (LN Photo)
With Stancill in the lead, Anderson was able to get back by Coble for second. Even though each driver was racing with everything they had, their positions didn’t change for the final 10 laps of the race. Stancill bested Anderson and Coble for the overall win as well as the Semi Pro division victory.
“It was a good clean race between me, Jordan and John,” said Coble. “We just didn’t have quite the car to win. It was a lot of fun. I am glad that second groove came in there. It helped me out a lot by keeping me in the top three.”
The second-place finish wasn’t a disappointment for Anderson, as that gave him his seventh Pro division victory of the season.
“It was a good race,” said Anderson. “I started on the pole and led until lap 15 or so. Mitchell Coble got by me but I got back around him. Then
John Stancill got by me. Overall it was a good race. I also have to thank Nick Pistone Racing for giving me a great car today. We were on a roll with three straight wins, and that ended Saturday night at Lanier when we came up one spot short. Other than that, we have had a great season so far this year.
“Hopefully we are going to run for the 2007 Pro National points. It has been an exciting season so far, and I am looking forward to the Summer Shootout.”
While Hair had an uncharacteristic race by never being a factor all day long, his seventh place finish was high enough to give him the Masters division win.
Clay Hair had an off day but still collected the Masters division win. (LN Photo)
“Our race was terrible,” said Hair. “We were way too tight. I think our tires had more grip than we have had here before. Yesterday the cars were tight and today they were again. I just couldn’t get the thing to turn in the center. I waited to get down and got back in line, then tried to sort the car out so I could give Ryan (Ryan Farbo, Crew Chief at Clay Hair Motorsports) information for the next time we come back here.”
With Stancill and Anderson taking two of the three divisional wins, it was a good weekend for Nick Pistone Racing. Both drivers are currently in the top-three in National points for their divisions with aspirations of bringing season championships home to NPR.
“This basically says that Nick Pistone Racing has the right setup and the right drivers,” said Stancill. “Nick does his job.”
